Heralds Digest

  “I love the LORD, because He has heard My voice and my supplications. Because He has inclined His ear to me, Therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭116:1-2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/psa.116.1-2.nkjv If building fruitful partnership from distant relationships among physical partners is frustrating, anyone can understand why fellowship with the “unknown” (or much more faraway) God is largely fruitless. Without the challenges of life, bread and butter Christians are frequent in fellowship houses and singing praises as exhibit of a cordial relationship with God. Unfortunately, God has never reckoned with lip declarations of faith. The Psalmist’s experiences with God revealed moments of drought, danger, and darkness in the dungeon and the flash of wickedness, coupled with frustrating silence from the throne of grace. Yet, confidence and trust in the Lord kept the prayers coming until the new day arrives. “I love the LORD, because He has heard My voice a...

  “Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, But to Your name give glory, Because of Your mercy, Because of Your truth.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭115:1‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/psa.115.1.nkjv It is no news that consistent and reliable services at home, workplaces and in the ministries are readily threatened when self interest is endangered. As long as the line of recognition, recommendation, and remuneration is straight, attention and contributions of players are easily gathered. But to trust completely in the Lord, especially when all interests accrued to self are withdrawn or threatened, the heart must be completely prepared to be satisfied with the glory of God before volunteering commitment. Unfortunately, it is only easy to sing “Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, But to Your name give glory”. Enlisting for a selfless call for professional or ministerial service in a world obsessed with recognition and reputation is hard. 

  “A good man deals graciously and lends; He will guide his affairs with discretion.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭112:5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/psa.112.5.nkjv Sometimes, the switch between goodness and greediness is not straightforward. Without the danger of abuse, the simple mark of goodness will be generosity. Unfortunately, abuse of the heart of generosity often make a fool out of a partner in business,  a faithful in a fellowship, and a friend among fans. Where the flow of goodness is expected to be driven by needs, abuse creates artificial channels for the exploitation of loopholes. Therefore, many ‘would be’ good men have turned greedy men with exposures to the problems of abuse at home, workplaces, and the society. Notwithstanding, the scriptures declare that ‘A good man deals graciously and lends...’, despite being not immune to abuse. He will guide his [business, family, social, etc] affairs with discretion. Since decisiveness can only guide the heart by experiences, while ...

  “In return for my love they are my accusers, But I give myself to prayer...I will greatly praise the LORD with my mouth; Yes, I will praise Him among the multitude. For He shall stand at the right hand of the poor, To save him from those who condemn him.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭109:4, 30-31‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/psa.109.4,30-31.nkjv The genuine motivation for social, business, career, family and professional acquaintances is hardly selfless in the true sense of life’s relationships. The expectation that love begat love and affection is normal. Whereas, many cry foul when love and loyalty are paid back with hatred and mistrust. And, unfortunately, the victims of love are mostly turned villains of hatred and wickedness, based on their misconceptions of the true subject for authentic acquaintance. While scriptures admonished believers to acquaint themselves with God (and not man) for good, man often prefer to look for good as the basis of his acquaintance with fellow men. And thoug...

  “Give us help from trouble, For the help of man is useless. Through God we will do valiantly, For it is He who shall tread down our enemies.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭108:12-13‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/psa.108.12-13.nkjv Only those who underestimate the influence of spirituality in system operations, whether at home, business enterprises, or institutional management, will put absolute confidence in human strategies. Reflecting on the Psalmist’s victory over the troubles of life and the array of persecution received from king Saul, the experiences of David have taught believers the indispensability of divine intelligence in the battles of life. Put all the holy intentions of human intelligence together (and needless to mention the myriads of unholy manipulation in most of human assistance), they are unable to match the devilish strategy of believers’ archenemy against the purpose of God. Therefore, it is absolute necessary for all to wake up into daily operations with the solemn plea ...

  “Seek the LORD and His strength; Seek His face evermore! Remember His marvelous works which He has done, His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth,” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭105:4-5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/psa.105.4-5.nkjv Over the ages, the abusing abilities of men have played a significant role in human search for strength and sustenances. Unfortunately, man seeks for power and position primarily for the purpose of enslaving fellow men rather than for collective social and economics empowerment. And just as the abiding abilities of the great God delivered the Israelites from the abusing abilities of Pharaoh, the deliverance of the Lord awaits those who dare to seek God and His strength in times of the world’s overwhelming floods. Even when the abusing abilities of this world appear to be holding sway in believers’ life, career, family and ministries, the faith of the righteous is built on nothing less than the hope of deliverance by God’s marvelous works...which He has previousl...

  “For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust...But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting On those who fear Him, And His righteousness to children’s children,” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭103:14, 17‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/psa.103.14,17.nkjv Blessing the Lord and living always for His glory are undoubtedly the desires of sincere souls; but the reality of uncertainty in our fragile world is often overwhelming for the feeble minds. The souls are easily messed up and constrained to remember the wrong things, especially when the experiences of life do not appear to measure up. But fortunately, and like the Psalmist acknowledged, sincere souls are blessed with the sovereign Saviour. God knows when the challenges of life messes up believers prayer life, and threatens his consistent confidence in the secret place. But [in spite of the irritating mess in our lives] the mercy of the LORD [sovereign Saviour] is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him [si...